Eric Leas

Eric Leas is an Assistant Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science (University of California San Diego) and a Principal Investigator of the Tobacco E-Commerce Lab. He holds a PhD in Public Health (2017) from UCSD and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (2013) from UCLA, followed by a Preventive Medicine Fellowship at Stanford University (2018).

His research focuses on leveraging modern analytical methods and data streams to advance public health understanding, particularly in substance use (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, kratom), health policy, and digital surveillance. Recent work includes uncovering regulatory gaps in online tobacco sales, analyzing trends in delta-8-THC and CBD use, and evaluating the impact of media on public health behaviors (e.g., suicide searches post-13 Reasons Why).

His publications span high-impact journals like JAMA, Tobacco Control, and Am J Public Health, with a focus on substance-related disorders, public health, and medical informatics. Key subfields include tobacco control, cannabis regulation, AI in healthcare, and health disparities.

Scientific awards include a Stanford University Fellowship in Preventive Medicine (2018). He collaborates with researchers such as John W. Ayers, David R. Strong, and Karen Messer, with media citations in the LA Times, Washington Post, and NPR.